to whom all return and before whom all are brought to account, who does not wrong anyone by even an atom’s weight. If there is a good deed, He multiplies it and grants a great reward from Himself. He accepts only deeds done seeking His Face.

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As for someone saying, “We benefit from so-and-so’s blessing,” or, “Blessings have come to us since he came to stay with us,” these words are correct in one respect and false in another.

The correct meaning is that he guided us, taught us, enjoined what is right upon us, and forbade us what is wrong, so that through the blessing of following and obeying him, we attained the good that we did. This is a sound statement. Thus, when the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, came to the people of Medina, they benefited from his blessing when they believed in him and obeyed him. Through the blessing of that, they attained happiness in this world and the Hereafter. Indeed, every believer who believes in the Messenger and obeys him receives, through the Messenger’s blessing and by virtue of that faith and obedience, good in this world and the Hereafter whose extent Allah alone knows.

And (likewise, if what is meant is that, through the blessing of his supplication and righteousness, Allah warded off evil and granted us provision and victory, this is true. As the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said:

“Are you granted victory and provision except through the weak among you—through their supplications, prayers, and sincerity?”

Allah may also ward off punishment from disbelievers and the wicked lest it strike the believers among them who